Combination salt-cellar and pepper-box.



- T. NOD/TOTO.

COMBINATION SALT CELLAR AND PEPPER BOX.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.8. 1914.

www?. muted D@@.14,1915.

TsUNnJrno Noi/Loro, or SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

COMBINATION SALT-'osuna AND PEPPER-B0X.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Application filed October 8, 1914. Serial No. 865,735.

.To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, TsUNEJIRo Norro'ro, asubject of the Emperor of Japan, Aresiding at Seattle, in the county ofKing and State of Vashington, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Combination SaltCellars and Pepper-BoXes; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to mak'e and use the same.

This invention relates to receptaclespand serving devices for condimentsor other powdered material where it is desired to sprinkle a pluralityof such materials independently from the same receptacle.

One object of the invention is to provide a container having a partitiontherein divid` ing the container into separate chambers for containingthe condiments or other materials, such chambers having openings andclosures for the openings with means for selectively opening theclosures manually to discharge either of the materials from itsrespective chamber.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device as abovedescribed means whereby the termination of the discharge of one of thematerials from the container serves to shift the mechanism automaticallyso that the next material discharged is the other material.

Vith these and other objects in view the invention comprises certainnovel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts. as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical diametrical sectional viewthrough the d e'- vice. Fig. 2 is a transversesectional view taken online 2--2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device with thesifting cover removed as indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe -several views.

The improved serving device which forms the subject-matter of thisapplication comprises a container 10, of conventional tumbler shapehaving a screw cap 11 at its upper or larger end and a perforatedsifting cap 12 at its lower or smaller end, the latter engaging theflange of a reduced portion or neck 13, such reduced neck forming ashoulder 14.

Disposed diametrically within the container 10 is a partition 15properly proportloned to intimately engage the tapered sides of thecontainer 10 and rest upon the shoulder 14 and carrying a bottom in theform of a disk 16 proportioned to t intimately within the reduced neck13. The partition 15 as will be apparent from Fig. 2 divides thecontainer into two opposite semi-circular chambers and the bottom 16 isprovided with two openings 17 and 18 which form'communication betweenthe respective semi-circular chambers and the space between the bottom16 and the sprinkler cap 12. To the bottom are pivoted closures 19 and20 held yieldingly closed by the springs 21 and 22 to normally cover theopenings 17 and 18 and prevent the discharge of any material from thesemi-circular chambers to the sifting cap. The bottom 16 is providedwith a central stop 23 against which the tails of the closures 19 and 20engage as indicated at Fig. 3 under the tension of the springs 21 and22.

Upon one side the partition 15 is provided with a housing comprising theiiange 24 and cover 25 with a rib 26 disposed intermediately between thesubstantially parallel sections 24 of the flange. The intervals betweenthe rib 26 and the sections 24 of the fiange form guides for plungers 27and 28 and direct them through slots 29 and 30 in the bottom 16. rlCheplungers have cam eX- tremities 31 and 32 to engage the tails of theclosures 19 and 20, one being shown in such position at Fig. 3. Theplun'gers 27 and 28 are held normally and yieldingly upwardly out ofengagement with the closures 19 and @.0 by springs 33 and 34respectively.

To force the plungers 27 or 28 downwardly to open their respectiveclosures a block l35 is mounted to slide in the housing, and this blockis controlled by a stem 36 moving in `a guide and held normally yield#ingly raised by the spring 37. The stem 36 is provided with a button 88,and a disk 39 is carried upon the housing 24 of a diameter similar tothat of the button so that the screw cap 11 may be removed withoutremoving the button 818. The block 35 carries a finger 40 pivotedthereto as at 41, and adapted to be swung from side to side to engageeither of the plungers 27 or 28 when the button 38 is depressed, suchswinging being brought about manually by tilting the receptacle. In theposition shown at Fig. 1 it is obvious that when the button'38 isdepressed the nger 40 will engage the plunger 27 and forcing thatdownward serves to open the closure 20. lf the device is tilted in theopposite direction the finger 40 will swing to similarly engage theplunger 28. .1

Within the housing are mounted kicker levers 41 and 42 by pivoting at 43and 44 respectively, and expansive springs 45 and 46 are provided tothrow such levers normally inward` toward the finger 40. The levers 41and 42are provided with reduced or spring lower ends constitutinglatches having hooked extremities 47 and 4S which extend throughopenings between the housing 24 and the abutment 49. The plungers 27 and28 carry spring pressed detents 50 and 51 having cam faces which permitsuch detents to ride over the extremities 47 and 48 of the latches whilethe plungers are being depressed, but to engage such extremities whenthe plungers are raised. Vhen, therefore, one of the plungers isdepressed and permitted to return under the action of its spring 33 thedetent 50 lifts the latch 47 out of engagement with the angle in thesect-ion Q4 and permits the spring 45 to throw the kicker 41 overagainst the finger 4() and swing such finger to the opposite side.

Assuming therefore that the positions of the parts as shown at Fig. 1are such that the depressing of the button 38 will release salt from oneof the chambers by the depressing of the plunger 27 when such plunger isreturned, the kicker 41 will automatically swing the finger 40 to theopposite side so that by again depressing the button 38 such fingerengages the plunger 28 and releases pepper. The lower end of the block35 is wedge-shaped as at 35 and stands between the upper ends of thekickers as shown, andat each descent of the stem and block either kickerwhich may have been thus released and permitted to act is restored andits hooked extremity relatched. If, therefore, one desires to apply bothcondiments or materials in succession it is only l necessary to depress4the button 3S twice and shake the receptacle thereby securing a supplyof both of the materials. While the words Salt and Pepper appear in thedrawing at Fig. 1 upon the screw cap 11 it is obvious that any otherwords'may be substituted therefor if such condiments are not to beemployed in the receptacle. Assuming, however, that saltY and pepper arethe condiments to be applied the initial operation would be to tilt thecontainer toward the side indicated Salt, which would swing the finger40 to the position shown at Fig.

posite side so that a second depressing of the button 38 would cause therelease of pepper. It is obvious, of course, that the device might beinitially tilted toward the word Pepper, and pepper be the first to bereleased and it is not necessary then to release the other condimentsunless it is desired.

l claim:

l. In a condiment holder, the combination with lan upright containerinternally divided into a pair of chambers and whose bottom has openingsrespectively communicating with them, and a perforated cap carried bythe container below its bottom and spaced therefrom; of closures forsaid openings, devices for opening said closures, an element foractuating said devices, and means for moving said element manually intoselective engagement with either of said devices.

2. In a condiment holder, the combination with an upright containerinternally divided int-o a pair of chambers and whose bottom hasopenings respectively communicating with them, and a perforated capcarried by the container below its bottom and spaced therefrom; ofclosures for said openings, devices for opening said closures, anelement for actuating said devices, means for moving said elementmanually into selective engagement with either of said devices, andmeans for automatically moving said element into engagement with theother of said devices, for the purpose set forth.

3. ln a condiment holder, the combination with an upright containerinternally die vided into a plurality of chambers and whose bottom hasopenings respectively communicating with them, and a perforated capcarried by the container below its bottom and spaced therefrom; ofclosures for said openings, mechanism for selectively opening theclosures to throw either cha1nber into communication with the space, a.cap for the upper end of the container, and a shank passing slidablythrough said cap and connected with said mechanism.

4. In a condiment holder, the combination with a container havingopenings at the bottom, closures normally closing said openings, and aninternal partition dividing the container into chambers respectivelycommunicating with the openings; of plungers slidably mounted on saidpartition and held normally raised, their lower ends being shaped toopen said closures when the plungers are depressed, a vertically movableand manually operable element, and a movable support for said elementwhereby it is `adapted to be alined with either of said tlli plungersfor selectively operating them when it descends.

5. In a condiment holder, the combination with a container havingopenings at the bottom, closures normally closing said openings, and aninternal partition dividing the container into chambers respectivelycommunicating with the openings; of plungers slidably mounted on saidpartition and held normally raised, their lower ends being shaped toopen said closures when the plungers are depressed, a stem moving in aguide on said partition and having a button at its upper end, and alinger pivoted at its upper end to said stem and having its lower endadapted to be swung over said plungers for selectively operating themwhen it de scends.

6. ln a condiment holder, the combination with a container havingopenings at the bottom, closures normally closing said openings, aninternal partition dividing the con tainer into chambers respectivelycommunicating with the openings; and plungers slidably mounted on saidpartition and held normally raised, their lower ends being shaped toopen said closures when the plungers are depressed; ol: a liange on saidpartition loosely embracing said plungers and formed at its upper endinto a guide, a manually operable stem slidably mounted in the guide andhaving a block at its lower end, a spring normally raising said stem andblock, and a linger pivoted at its upper end to the block with saidlower end swinging within the flange and adapted to be selectivelyengaged with the upper ends of the. plungers.

7. ln a condiment holder, the combination with a container havingopenings at the bottom, closures for said openings, an internalpartition dividing the container into chambers respectivelycommunicating with the openings; and plungers held normally raised,their lower ends being shaped to open said closures when the plungersare depressed; of a housing comprising a flange on one side of saidpartition having parallel sections at its lower end outside saidplungers and a guide at its upper end surmounted by a disk, a ribbetween said plungers, and a cover plate overlying the sections and rib;a cap for the container having a central hole tting around said disk, anormally raised stem sliding in said guide and having a button above andno larger than the disk, and a linger pivotally connected with the lowerend of the stem and adapted to swingwithin the housing so that its lowerextremity may be selectively engaged with said plungers.

8. In a condiment holder, the combination with a container havingopenings at the bottom, closures for said openings, an internalpartition dividing the container into chambers respectivelycommunicating with the openings; and plungers held normally raised,their lower ends being shaped to open said closures when the plungersare depressed; of a guide on one side of said partition surmounted by adisk, a cap for the container having a central hole litting around saiddisk, a normally raised stem sliding in said guide and having a buttonabove and no larger than the disk, and fingerA pivotally connected withthe stem and adapted to swing so that it may be selectively engaged withsaid plungers.

9. ln a condiment holder, the combination with a container whose bottomis provided with a pair of openings, closures pivoted to said bottom,and springs igor drawing the closures over the openings; of a partitiondividing the container into compartments communicating with saidopenings, plungers guided on the partition and having cam extremitiesadapted to open the closures when the plungers are depressed, springsnormally raising said plungers, a manually operable stem slidablymounted in the upper end of said container, a linger pivoted at itsupper end to said stem with its lower end free and adapted to be swungover either plunger by tilting the entire device, and means for kickingthe linger into position over the opposite plunger on the rise of thatplungerI which the linger has depressed.

10. In a condiment holder, the combination with a container having twooutlets in its bottom and a partition between them, a pair of normallyraised plungers adapted to open the outlets when they are depressed, andmanually operable devices including a swinging linger for engaging andselectively depressing said plungers; of a housing on the partition,kickers pivoted in said housing, means for throwing their upper endsnormally toward the linger, latches for holding said ends outward, adetent on each plunger for tripping the adjacent latch as the plungerascends, and means on said devices lor spreading said ends.

11. In a condiment holder, the combination with a container having twoopenings in its bottom, closures normally covering said openings, apartition dividing the container into compartments communicating withthe openings, a pair oi normally raised plungers whose lower ends areadapted to open the closures when they are depressed, and manuallyoperable devices for selectively depressing said plungers, such devicesincluding a pivoted linger; of a housing on the partition embracing saidplungers and devices, kickers pivoted in said housing, springs throwingtheir upper ends normally toward the linger, latches at their lower endsfor holding said upper ends outward, means on each plunger for trippingthe adjacent latch as the plunger asoends, and means on said devices forspreading the upper ends of the kickers.

12. In a condiment holder, the combination with a container having twooutlets and compartments communicating therewith, closures for saidoutlets, a pair of normally raised plungers adapted to open the closureswhen they are depressed, a manually depressible wedge-shaped block, anda swinging finger on the block for selectively depressing said plungers;of a housing in the container, kickers pivoted in said housing, springsthrowing their upper ends normally toward the nger and into the path ofsaid block so that the latter will spread such ends when it descends,hook-shaped spring latches at their lower ends for engaging said housingand holding said upper ends outward, and a spring-projected detent ineach plunger for tripping the hook ot the adjacent latch as the plungerascends.

ln testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

TSUNEJIRO NOMOTO. Witnesses:

Gr. WARD KEMP, TADSHIRA D. KATAYAMA.

Copies of this Patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

